Tripura: Mizoram imposes Sec 144 along disputed Phuldungsei village

Agartala: A week after the Mizoram government obstructed to the construction of a temple in the disputed inter-state border village of Phuldungsei, the state has imposed Section- 144 with effect from October 16 restricting public movement along the bordering area.

The Mizoram’s Mamit district magistrate, Dr Lalrozama on Friday issued a prohibitory order and said on October 19 and 20, an organization called SONGRONGMA in Tripura has planned to build a Shiva temple at Thaidawr Tlang, which is located within Mamit district.

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“…this has been planned without the permission of the Govt. of Mizoram and is against the interest of the local community and could harm peace and tranquility in the region….it is necessary to prohibit people from assembling in groups to prevent any untoward incident, which is likely to disrupt or adversely affect peace and tranquility prevailing in the region,” the order copy made available to EastMojo reads.

In the order, he said, Section 144 has been issued in Phuldungsei Zampui and Zomuantlang areas from today with a view to maintaining law and order situation. As a result, assembly of five or more persons is prohibited in the village and surrounding areas of Phuldungsei Zampi and Zomuantlang, Mamit district, Mizoram from October 16.

Any violation of the order would be dealt with under section 188 of Indian Penal Code (IPC), which is punishable with one month imprisonment or Rs. 200 fine or both and imprisonment upto six months if the violation poses threat to human life, health, safety or is a potential cause for breakdown of law like rioting, the order copy reads.

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The officials including the North Tripura district magistrate Nagesh Kumar and Superintendent of Police Phanupada Chakraborty held a meeting on Friday and are likely to visit the area on Saturday.

Earlier, chairman of Indigenous progressive regional alliance, TIPRA, Pradyot Kishore Deb Barman wrote on his social media handle, “Will the government of Tripura respond to explain to us what is the Truth? Or are we to believe that Tripura has become even a smaller state than before….”.

The village situated at Kanchanpur Sub-division under North Tripura district shares state boundary with Tripura and Mizoram, around 324 Km from Agartala.

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The development comes two months after the Tripura government identified 130 residents of Phuldungsei enrolled in the electoral roll of Zampui Phuldungsei under Hacchek constituency of Mizoram.

Earlier, on October 11, a letter addressed by Mizoram home secretary to his counterpart in Tripura, BK Sahu said that construction of Mandir (temple) in the disputed inter-state border village could result into law and order problems and sought immediate and indefinite stop to the proposed building.

The letter also cited that since any activities within the disputed inter-state border can result in law & order problems. “It is requested to kindly intervene and issue necessary instructions to the concerned District Administration for the immediate and indefinite stoppage of the proposed construction”, the letter made available with EastMojo reads.

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The survey of India is likely to facilitate a joint spot verification drive with the two-state governments to resolve the issue.

Earlier in August the Kanchanpur Sub-divisional magistrate Chandani Chandaran wrote a letter to the government informing that Phuldungsei Village Council had been added as part of the constituency as Zampui Phuldungsei and 130 voters in the electoral roll of Zampui Phuldungsei are residents of Tripura.

“Traditional Phuldungsei VC as a whole (despite Eastern side falling in Mizoram) has been accepted as a part of Tripura. Hence, the inclusion of the VC and its residents in Mizoram electoral rolls seems to be problematic. There is an urgent need to demarcate the exact boundary between Mizoram and Tripura incorporating the entire Phuldungsei VC in Tripura,” the letter reads.

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